JBL 530 vs Edifier S2000MKIII

The JBL Studio 530 and the Edifier S2000MKIII have similarly priced bookshelf speakers with a ton to like. The JBL 530 vs Edifier S2000MKIII is a battle of great speakers with key differences that should factor into your buying decision. You’ll find both in our picks for the best bookshelf speakers for good reason. We’ll discuss what both bring to the table and review how they differ. We’ll walk through key specs for each speaker first.

Key Specifications

Comparison: JBL Studio 530 vs Edifier S2000MKIII

Power Handling and Volume

The JBL Studio 530 bookshelf speakers are 6 Ohm passive speakers that will require amplification to power them. This won’t be an issue if you already have an external amplifier or an A/V receiver. The JBL 530 bookshelf speakers also have a sensitivity of 86 dB. This means they are not the most efficient speakers. These speakers play loud and volume will likely only be an issue for a larger room. JBL listed the suggested power for the JBL 530s at 25-125 Watts.

Unlike the JBL speakers, the Edifier S2000MKIII are powered or active bookshelf speakers. They have a 130 Watt amplifier onboard. They have similar capability volume-wise as the JBL speakers. Both are sufficient for most home audio uses.

Construction and Size

The JBL 530 speakers (8.4″W x 18.4″H x 8.5″ D) have the larger footprint of the two speakers. Most of the difference is the added height of the JBL 530 bookshelf speakers. Each speaker weighs 17 pounds. You’ll also find they have a black, bold design that is pretty divisive. I will say that the design of the JBL 530 is definitely much more appealing in person. Its woofer can be covered, but the large bi-radial horn tweeter is the biggest attention grabber here. It’s definitely a unique and non-traditional design. Whether you like it is a matter of preference. The speaker is constructed with MDF wood and feels extremely solid. There is a bass port on the back of the speaker. The JBL 530’s dual, gold-plated binding posts also allow for bi-amping.

You’ll find that the Edifier S2000MKIII bookshelf speakers have a much more traditional design. It will also likely be more appealing to most. Its wood grain finish is accented by black drivers. This result is a great-looking set of bookshelf speakers that will look great in most households. They feel extremely solid and have some heft to them. Dimensions for the Edifier S2000MKIII come out to 7.8″W x 13.5″H x 11″D. They also weigh a combined 37.8 pounds with the right (powered) speaker weighing slightly more (19 pounds).

Sound Quality and Configuration

The JBL 530 speakers have a 5.25″ low-frequency woofer and a large bi-radial horn with a loaded tweeter. Edifier’s S2000MKIII also has two drivers. A planar tweeter and a 5.5″ woofer. Both speakers have an identical 45-40,000Hz frequency response.

The S2000MKIII has connectivity options like many Edifier speakers. Not only will you not need an external amplifier to power them. You also won’t need an A/V receiver or other product to play from a source device. Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX-HD is available for streaming audio from your phone, tablet, tv, etc. You can even connect the Edifier speakers via RCA, AUX, optical, or Coaxial if you prefer a wired connection. This is a great option for convenience if you aren’t planning on adding additional speakers to your setup. On-speaker dials are also available for adjusting treble, bass, and volume. It’s a ton of added functionality you won’t find on a passive speaker. It may be worth considering based on your use case.

Both of these speakers have excellent sound quality, which can make deciding between the two very difficult. The JBL 530 has a magical quality to it. They sound slightly bright and have a very expansive, wide soundstage. The detail and clarity were also impressive. There is a lively quality to music when listening to the JBL 530. The midrange and vocals were also smooth. These speakers really give all frequencies the room to shine even if the treble is where they really shine. Bass response is accurate and satisfying even if it’s not very forceful. I felt the JBL speakers performed best with music that was instrument-heavy and vocal-centric. The JBL 530s also worked well as home theater speakers for watching movies. Dialogue seemed magically projected from the center of the screen even with the speakers 10 feet apart. The low-frequency transducers were great for movie scores also. You’ll of course need a subwoofer with bookshelf speakers for truly impactful bass.

I also found the Edifier S2000MKIII to be awesome-sounding speakers. My initial listening was done without tweaking settings on-board the Edifier speakers. Music from Edifier S2000MKIII sounds full and fun. Sound from these Edifier speakers is definitely closer to the traditional V-shaped sound signature from many commercial audio products. This is a fun EQ many people enjoy. They still provide detailed sound even if I would give the JBL 530 the slight edge in this regard. Vocals seemed slightly more recessed than the JBL 530. Bass was bigger and more emphasized on the Edifier S2000MKIII though. Bass-heavy songs were a little more lively listening on the Edifier speakers.

The Edifier S2000MKIII also performed well for home theater. Imaging and soundstage won’t be as expansive as the JBL 530s speakers. There’s still enough detail and low end to work well as in a small, standalone setup. Pairing multiple speakers will of course provide better results for home theaters. It’s still hard to discount the fact that the Edifier S2000MKIII has an amplifier and connectivity options included. This allows for a ready-made solution you can easily connect to a television or projector. Edifier even provides some of the necessary cables in addition to a remote. The remote also allows you to change EQ, adjust volume, change songs, and switch inputs.

Price and Similar Options

Prices for speakers can be all over the place in normal times. It’s no surprise that fluctuation is often seen in today’s environment. The JBL Studio 530 speakers retail for $600, but are rarely on sale at that price. A pair can be had for as low as $239 if you catch them on sale. They will still likely usually be available for a price similar or less to than Edifier S2000MKIII. The Edifier speakers have recently spiked in price to $500 at most merchants. It could be bought for $400 consistently in recent years. Hopefully, it can return to that price point soon.

Both the Edifier S2000MKIII are excellent speakers that deliver great value. The Edifier speakers may be more expensive, but they add a ton of value as active speakers. That along with its connectivity options remove the need to buy additional equipment to get going. If you already have a receiver or amplifier, the JBL also makes a good value buy too. The JBL 530s definitely punch above their price and are the obvious choice for home theater. They will work perfectly as front speakers or rear surrounds in a home theater system. They are also part of a larger JBL Studio series. That means there is a clear path to expand your system with a center channel speaker and larger tower speakers.

Several other great options are available also. The Edifier S1000MKII active speakers are an older model with similar design and connectivity options to the S2000MKIII. You can also buy them for more than $100 cheaper. Edifier’s R1850 is a larger step down in sound quality. They do have a subwoofer line out and an appealing $200 price point though. Klipsch’s RP-600M passive bookshelf speakers are a popular option for their engaging and dynamic sound signature. They are also much easy to drive if you are looking to fill a larger room with sound. You can also check out more of our comparison guides to aid your buying decision.

Verdict: Edifier S2000MKIII vs JBL 530

Buy the JBL 530 if…

• You are building a home theater speaker system
• You like the bold design
• You want the more versatile sound signature
• You already have a receiver or amplifier

Buy the Edifier S2000MKIII if…

• You like the convenience of a plug and play solution
• You don’t plan on adding more speakers
• You don’t own a receiver or amplifier
• You stream a lot of audio from your phone

Check out our buying guide and reviews if you’re considering other speakers. It includes tips and guidance to help you find the best speaker for you.